This weekend will not be of typical fashion for one of UW-Madison's fraternities.
Sigma Phi Epsilon will defy the typical \frat"" stereotype by partaking in Tour de Touchdown. The event began Wednesday and will conclude at the Badger football game Saturday at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.
Tour de Touchdown is an annual charity event to help raise money for the UW Children's Hospital. Members of Sig Ep will bicycle approximately 150 miles to Northwestern where they will present the game ball for this week's football game.
The festivities began with a kickoff party Wednesday at the Sig Ep house, 237 Langdon St. Bucky, members of the Madison Fire Department and children from the UW Hospital were all present for a barbecue and send-off of the first group of cyclists.
""You kind of see, when you come to the event, how worth it is when the children come down and they really appreciate what you're doing and why you're doing it,"" Sig Ep member Aaron Kutnick said.
In years past, brothers biked to the University of Minnesota and Purdue-raising $7,000 and more than $10,000 respectively. The goal for this year is to raise $12,500.
""That's our goal right now, and even though it's early, we're really confident that we'll do it. I think it's going to be great,"" Kutnick said.
Money is raised through donations from local businesses, families, friends and sponsorships of the cyclists.
According to Brian Burke, president of Sig Ep, a bicycle is donated by Yellow Jersey Bicycles, 613 University Ave. In addition to the Tour de Touchdown, Sig Ep started a powder puff tournament at Camp Randall to raise additional funds for the UW Children's Hospital.
""The money raised goes to helping to improve and enhance the quality of care that we have here for the patients and families,"" said Mary Kaminski, director of Patient and Family Services at UW Children's Hospital. In the past, the money has gone toward purchasing laptops for patients and their families.
This year, Kaminski plans on putting some of the money toward collections of items for the families called Comfort Kits.
""We're hoping that these Comfort Kits will be able to lessen some of that stress and anxiety,"" Kaminski said.
Tour de Touchdown was kicked off initially over 15 years ago.
""It's just a lot of fun for the guys involved and I think the best part about it is that it's for the kids,"" Burke said.
Donations can be sent to: Care of Tour de Touchdown, 237 Langdon St. Checks can be made payable to UW Children's Hospital.
